Joaquin Phoenix Is a Quadriplegic Cartoonist in ‘Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot’ Trailer

It’s a big year for Joaquin Phoenix. On top of giving one of his career-best performances in Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here earlier this year, and playing this unknown dude called Jesus Christ in the upcoming Mary Magdalene, Phoenix is also portraying cartoonist John Callahan.

In Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot, Phoenix reunites with his To Die For director Gus Van Sant for the story of an alcoholic quadriplegic. The first trailer introduces Phoenix’s John Callahan, a young man with a drinking problem who gets in car accident, leaving him permanently disabled. But while this may sound like typical weepy Oscar bait, the trailer highlights the dark humor of the Van Sant film; like a shot of Phoenix catapulted into the street as his wheelchair hits a crack in the road, and him showing off his controversial cartoons to offended passerby.

We’re bound to get more than a great Phoenix performance though; Don’t Worry also stars Jonah Hill as a long-haired alcoholic, Rooney Mara as John’s girlfriend, Jack Black, and Carrie Brownstein. Here’s the full synopsis:

John Callahan has a lust for life, a talent for off-color jokes, and a drinking problem. When an all-night bender ends in a catastrophic car accident, the last thing he intends to do is give up drinking. But when he reluctantly enters treatment —with encouragement from his girlfriend (Rooney Mara) and a charismatic sponsor (Jonah Hill) —Callahan discovers a gift for drawing edgy, irreverent newspaper cartoons that develop an international following and grant him a new lease on life. Based on a true story, this poignant, insightful and often funny drama about the healing power of art is adapted from Callahan’s autobiography and directed by two-time Oscar® nominee Gus Van Sant. Jack Black, Carrie Brownstein, Beth Ditto and Kim Gordon also star.

The Van Sant film debuted at Sundance earlier this year to largely positive reviews. We should be so lucky to have three new Phoenix starring roles to treasure this year, and such wildly diverse ones at that. Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far on Foot hits theaters July 13.